Beautiful Wood Fern

Dryopteris pulcherrima

Nature Hills Nursery

Ultra-Fine, Feathery Fronds Deliver Unmatched Elegance to Shade Gardens Year-Round
Thrives in Zones 6-9
Grows 1-2 ft Tall and Wide
Native Perennial
Ideal for Mass Planting in Cottage Gardens

$35⁶⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This fern thrives in dappled sunlight or full shade, ideally receiving less than 2 to 4 hours of morning sun. Avoid direct afternoon sun, as it will scorch the delicate fronds and turn the vibrant bronze-green foliage a dull brown.
Soil: Plant in rich, organic soil that mimics a forest floor. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost or leaf mold to improve drainage, as "wet feet" will cause the crown to rot.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy during the first year to help the root system settle. Once established, this fern can handle brief dry spells, though inconsistent moisture often leads to crispy leaf edges and stunted growth. Aim for about an inch of water per week, focusing on the base of the plant rather than wetting the fronds.

Pruning Tips

Beautiful Wood Ferns are semi-evergreen and produce new growth from the center of the crown. Wait until late winter or very early spring to trim away old, tattered fronds before the new "fiddleheads" begin to emerge. This timing protects the crown from cold during winter and ensures the plant directs all its energy into fresh, colorful spring growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of rich compost in early spring just as new growth appears. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages tender new growth that cannot harden off before the first frost. A light touch is best, as over-fertilizing can lead to weak stems that flop over.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Wet Soils, Deer-resistant, Groundcover, Container Friendly
Sunlight	Partial shade
Height	1-2 ft
Width	1-2 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Peaty
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Bushy, Spreading
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Spring
Foliage Color	Green
Native	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Fern
Botanical Name	Dryopteris pulcherrima
Species	pulcherrima
Class	Polypodiopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

The Beautiful Wood Fern (Dryopteris pulcherrima) is a recent variety of Fern with the most luxuriously fine-cut fronds that are soft and delicate! The feathery texture adds a graceful and elegant beauty that only something with the name Beautiful can impart to the shade garden!

In Latin, pulcherrima means "beautiful", and once you see this new variety of Fern, you're sure to understand the reason for its name! This shade-tolerant, hardy perennial Fern features richly green, arching fronds with an elegant spreading informal vase shape.

Wood Ferns are heat and drought-tolerant, with an evergreen nature that ensures year-round interest! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 6-9, they may be semi-evergreen or perennial after an especially cold winter. Maturing into 2-foot tall and wide fountains of green finery!

Planting and Application:

Beautiful Wood Fern has a light, airy appearance and is perfect for beneath shade trees or other empty spots where you'd like something vibrant and green to fill the space. Plant some of these around trees, shrubs or anywhere you'd love some lovely, evergreen groundcover.

The Beautiful Wood Fern would make a lovely choice for any shade garden or understory beneath a canopy of trees or the shady side of your home! Versatile and hardy, Wood Ferns are sure to please you whether you use them as a groundcover, in containers, or as an accent!

Ferns are rabbit and deer-resistant and are great for out-of-the-way wooded areas and edges of your property without worry of damage. Create shady garden glens and woodland drifts with these versatile shade garden plants! You'll gain cool and refreshing beauty where bare ground once lay.

This groundcover Fern is very striking when planted in large groups and allowed to naturalize freely en masse.

Rich Green Fine-Cut Lacy Foliage
Evergreen In Mild Winter Climates
Lush Year-Round Garden Finery
Great Container Plant
En Masse, Groundcover, Edging & Shade-Gardens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Wood Ferns are easy to grow and thrives in moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Handling heat and humidity fine, these Ferns do not like drying out too much, so be ready to provide supplemental moisture during prolonged heat and drought conditions. Top-dress with compost and 3-4 inches of arborist mulch to keep the roots cool, hold moisture, and block weed competition.

Divide plants in the early spring before new growth emerges. In spring before new growth begins, tidy up the mounds by removing or gently raking away any old, dead debris.

Full Shade & Part Sun
Impressively Heat & Humidity Tolerant
Any Well-Drained Rich Soil
Moderate to High Moisture
Deer & Rabbit-Resistant Easy-Care & Low-Maintenance

Add grace and beauty to your shade garden with the Beautiful Wood Fern's elegant green finery! Order enough to fill your landscape in refreshing fronds today from NatureHills.com!

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Spreading

It took several years, only planted 4 of them, but they have spread out and filled empty shady are in my back yard. It is nice to look out and see green all year around.

Spreading

It took several years, only planted 4 of them, but they have spread out and filled empty shady are in my back yard. It is nice to look out and see green all year around.

Hi Ajax,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with the Beautiful Wood Fern! We’re delighted to hear that your efforts over the years have paid off and that the ferns have spread to create a lush, green sanctuary in your shady backyard. There’s something truly special about watching nature gradually transform your space—and those evergreen touches certainly make for a bright, calming view year-round.

If you’d like tips on maintaining your ferns for continued healthy growth or ideas for companion plants that thrive in shade, we’d be happy to help. Ferns generally appreciate consistent moisture and well-drained soil, and keeping an eye out for maple spiders or slugs during wetter months can also keep them in prime form.

Thanks again for choosing and trusting Nature Hills as part of your garden journey!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Small size

Like the size of the beautiful wood fern as it fits my container very nicely.

Dear Kate M.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful feedback about the Beautiful Wood Fern! We're delighted to hear that the size was a perfect fit for your container — finding that ideal match truly makes a difference in enjoying your plants. If you ever need any tips on caring for your fern, such as maintaining the right moisture or ensuring proper shade, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help your fern thrive and bring even more charm to your space.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Shade plant

Grows great in the shade and is evergreen and that is what I needed in landscape. Well named also, Beautiful Wood Fern!

Shade plant

Grows great in the shade and is evergreen and that is what I needed in landscape. Well named also, Beautiful Wood Fern!

Hi Danne,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Beautiful Wood Fern! We’re delighted to hear that it thrives wonderfully in your shade garden and provides the evergreen touch you were looking for. It truly is a standout plant for adding subtle elegance and evergreen appeal in shaded landscapes.

If you ever want to keep it at its best, consider regularly checking soil moisture—Wood Ferns love consistently moist, well-drained soil but dislike waterlogging. Mulching can also help retain moisture and keep roots cool, especially during warmer months. Feel free to reach out if you want tips on pairing it with other shade-loving plants or maintenance advice!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall and wide does Beautiful Wood Fern grow at maturity?

Beautiful Wood Fern reaches 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide at maturity, forming attractive fountain-shaped clumps. This compact size makes it perfect for filling small shady spaces or planting in groups as groundcover without overwhelming nearby plants.

What are the soil requirements for planting Beautiful Wood Fern?

Beautiful Wood Fern thrives in well-draining, humus-rich soil with consistent moisture. This hardy perennial adapts to various soil types in zones 6-9 but performs best in slightly acidic to neutral conditions. Shop at Nature Hills for quality plants that establish quickly in prepared garden beds.

Does Beautiful Wood Fern prefer full shade, partial shade, or light shade?

Beautiful Wood Fern thrives in shade conditions and is specifically described as shade-tolerant. It's perfect for planting beneath shade trees, on the shady side of your home, or in understory areas. Plant it anywhere you need vibrant green coverage in those darker garden spots.

How much water does Beautiful Wood Fern need, and can it tolerate dry conditions?

Beautiful Wood Fern is heat and drought-tolerant once established, making it quite resilient in dry conditions. While it appreciates consistent moisture, this hardy perennial can handle periods of drought better than many ferns. Water regularly the first year, then it will thrive with minimal supplemental watering in zones 6-9.

Is Beautiful Wood Fern evergreen or deciduous in my zone?

Beautiful Wood Fern is evergreen in zones 7-9 but may be semi-evergreen or die back in zone 6 after especially cold winters. In milder climates, you'll enjoy its lush green fronds year-round. Shop at Nature Hills for this hardy shade perennial.

What care is required to maintain Beautiful Wood Fern, like pruning or mulching?

Beautiful Wood Fern requires minimal maintenance once established in zones 6-9. Remove any damaged fronds in late winter before new growth emerges. Apply a light layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Is Beautiful Wood Fern deer and rabbit resistant?

Yes, Beautiful Wood Fern is both deer and rabbit resistant, making it excellent for wooded areas and property edges. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 6-9 without worry of animal damage. Plant it freely in out-of-the-way spots for worry-free shade gardening.

How is Beautiful Wood Fern shipped, and is it bare root or potted?

Beautiful Wood Fern ships as a potted plant, not bare root. This ensures the delicate root system stays protected during transit and gives you a stronger start in zones 6-9. Plant immediately upon arrival or keep the container watered until you're ready to transplant.

Can Beautiful Wood Fern tolerate heat and southern summers?

Yes, Beautiful Wood Fern is heat and drought-tolerant, thriving in USDA zones 6-9 including southern regions. This hardy perennial maintains its lush green foliage even during hot summers. Plant it in shade or partial shade for best results in warmer climates.

Beautiful Wood Fern

Dryopteris pulcherrima